Durham daily recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1886-188?, 1887-05-14

The ii andard Of total abstinence, train
the young, save The inebriate. and
secure the legal prohibition an 4 com
plete Punishment ofthe liquor traffic.
THE PLEDGE:
Il hereby solemnly promise, God
helping me, to abstain from all dis
titled. fermentcd and malt liquors.
employ all proper means to dlsccur.
age the use OF traffic in the same
"And little child shall lead them.'
Is. lie 6v.
How the Child Closes the liar.
"See here, Tom, you have had
enough now. Soon you'll be SO drunk
you can't walk home. That won't do,
for it is getting late, and shall wish
to close soon"
Ills was tie language Of the bar
keeper to one Of his best customers.
He had a finer feeling than the most
Of men ia such brutal employ, and his
conscience often made the place almost
intolerable to him.
"But I'll have one more glass, said
Tom, .and then I'll quit" 81
The glass taken, 9 deeper stupor
came upon him. and he hung biz heaA
over the chars as if asleep. Presently
| from ont OF the storm through the
feebly opened door q beautiful child
came in, and walking timidly to the
counter, said:
"Mr. Porter, please give me quart
of beer"
The beer given and paid for, the
child came -ingly near to Tom,
and said
please, papa, come home with me.
Mamma is alone, baby is sick, and
she his sent me tor the beer that YOU
may drink it at home. Please, papa,
come with me? See! here's the beer,
and you can have it all"
And now the stupid man aroused
himself, and glazing wildly into the
eyes Of his own darling child be arose
| with q curse and ordered her to 60
home.
"But can't go without you, papa;
for it is awful dark without, and il
storms too"
The wild man became furious
under these beseeching tones, and
steadying himself with the chair, he
raised his foot to kick the child. This
was too much for Mr.. Porter, the bar
keeper, and instantly he leaped over
the bar and caught the uprising foot
of the drunken man.
"You shall not hurt this dear child,
you drunken wretch, you. And be
out of here at once that / may close
up."
/ The lights were put out and The
door locked, and all stepped into the
wild street. Porter saw the child and
her drunken father home, and then
he went to his wniotging to talk Il 9
matter over within himself. :
| 'Ah," said the wretched man, q
am responsible for the drunkenness
of Tom Speedwell. Ihaye helped to
demonize the man and make him q
curse to his wife and children, and
now, by Gods help, I'll help to save
him, and thereby, perhaps save my
self as WE'LL"
Next morning early he called on
Tom and said: aWell, Tom, ] saw
enough of this thing last night. But
for my own quick move you might
have dashed out the life Of your lit
tie one, and then this morning you
would have been murderer before
the low. 1t is time to quit your habits,
Tom, and it's time also for me to quit
1.-THE business that helped you to form
them. Pun going to close up forever.
will never open my bar again, and
| want you to take the pledge with me
tonight. Will you do it, old fellowP"
"Your story appalls me, Mr.. Por-
ter. Irememb.r nothing that you
tell me Of. My darling Nellie is more
than life to me. i would not have
slain her for ten thousands worlds.
God help me, I'll take the pledge
with you, and keep 1t too"
Early that evening they started for
the temperance hall, and made it con-
venient to pass several saloons BY the
way. When they reached the place
of meeting Porter was the captain of
thirty men, all of whom, like himself,
had been addicted to drink. The Sc
cond place Of honor belonged to Tom
naturally.
His wife and daughter were there
TO join the throng in adm irstion Of
course; but Porter's wife who was a
lady indeed, despite the low pr fes-
sion Of her husband, was also present
and seemed most glad OF all As her
husband signed the pledge she was
proud Of him, and throwing her arms
around his neck. ioyfully exclaimed.